Recommended College Finance Books

Drawing from the experience and knowledge of the well-respected authors below will save you from mountains of student loan and credit card debt if you heed their advice. Whether you’re a parent or a student, the publications listed on this page have all been well-received by people in similar situations. Being prepared and staying on top of your financial situation is hugely important, and as such, listing notable books that deal with paying for college is surely the best college money advice one can give. So feel free to take a look at the selection below that have received favorable reviews on Amazon. Given the high cost of tuition, being equipped with the indispensable information contained in these books will provide comfort and peace of mind when going through the college admissions process.

For Students

The Ultimate Scholarship Book 2012 Edition is a great publication to have in your personal library if a college student or planning to become one. They tout this as having billions of dollars of scholarship funds available. Of course, it’d probably take a lifetime to fill out each application, but spending a few days a week during summer vacation might prove to be a financially beneficial move in the long run. You could possible make the argument of forgoing a part-time job to your parents if you plan on dutifully researching and applying for scholarships contained in this book. Also, the authors of this book, Gen and Kelly Tanabe, have a super easy scholarship that you can find at their website.
—————————————————————————————————————————–The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke by Suze Orman is definitely one to not pass by. Suze, the Financial Diva, is chock full of money advice for young adults. She’s a no non-sense type of person which is what you’ll get out of this book. You’ll receive practical advice on how to unearth yourself from mounds of credit card and student loan debt that can plague a successful post-graduation lifestyle. In it she covers topics including purchasing a home, various insurance details and advice for the self-employed.
—————————————————————————————————————————–How to Go to College Almost for Free is a pretty wild claim to say the least, but apparently the author of this book, Ben Kaplan, was able to win ample amounts of cash to vastly decrease the cost of college. Learning tricks of the trade from someone who’s been through the process is probably the best way to save money while attending college. Additionally, you can find other helpful tips by visiting Ben’s website ScholarshipCoach.com for more advice on cutting college costs.
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How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay comes from Gen and Kelly Tanabe, the people who brought you The Ultimate Scholarship Book. In this book they feature 30 essays that’ve won over $3 million in scholarships. If you feel you could use some assistance in writing essays for scholarships and nailing interviews, learn from actual examples of winning and losing essays so that you can have the best possible chances of receiving an award.
—————————————————————————————————————————–Countdown to College provides a list of things to do for college-bound students in grades 9th to 12th. Gives parents and students a straightforward checklist of important things to do as the student progresses through high school. It’ll most likely be their first “where I want to be in five years” scenario which is always a good motivational tool for goal-oriented people. Nothing but rave reviews for this book on Amazon, including one from the president of College Parents of America.
—————————————————————————————————————————–The Scholarship & Financial Aid Solution offers tricks, tips and short cuts to decrease the cost of college substantially. This is simply yet another resource that you can use to stay on top of your finances while in college. You’ll also learn about scholarship scams, tips for writing essays, gain information on state grants and work study programs and find out how to search for scholarships locally. If you’re a college-bound student and are excited about this new phase in life, including this book as part of your pre-college reading material will surely prepare you for the next four to five years.
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For Parents

How You Can Maximize Student Aid is a useful book by author Tracy Foote that advices those filling out FASFA forms the best way to save money. It recommends a strategy so you can take advantage of tax benefits while also receiving the most from Financial Aid. Learn about the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). This book is mainly for parents interested in learning how to save while putting their kids through college. If you want a beginners course in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid process then give this book a try.
—————————————————————————————————————————–Pay for College Without Sacrificing Your Retirement is a guide for parents looking for financially practical ways to get their kids through school. It takes the “knock two birds with one stone” approach to finances by offering advice for parents with college-bound students who also are saving for retirement. The author is Tim Higgins, a Certified Financial Planner, who also runs a website at CollegePlusRetirement.com.
—————————————————————————————————————————–Admission Matters is a book for students and parents that guides you through the entire college admissions process. Whether you’ve been home schooled, need help with testing or simply could use help writing an engaging essay, is highly rated on Amazon making this a worthwhile investment. Opening yourself to all available resources and being prudent with that inormation when it comes to applying to college will surely allow you to reap the benefits down the line.